After Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run homer to rightfield on Sunday night, manager Jim Leyland repeated his belief that Cabrera has the best opposite-field power he has ever seen.

Prince Fielder has to rank pretty high on that list, too.

With the Tigers down two runs in the sixth inning Monday night, the left-handed-swinging Fielder launched a high drive over the fence in deepest left-center at Comerica Park.

That three-run opposite-field blow suddenly gave the Tigers the lead on what had been a dreary night for them. Then Max Scherzer and two relievers combined to retire the final nine hitters, wrapping up this 4-3 win over Minnesota.

With the help of Ryan Raburn, the Tigers went back into first place. Raburn hit two homers to help Cleveland to a 9-0 win in Kansas City. The Tigers thus moved past the Royals to take a half-game lead in the AL Central.

Two little things preceded Fielder’s three-run homer: a bunt and a foul ball that the Twins couldn’t get to.

Andy Dirks, who had homered for the Tigers’ only run entering the sixth, bunted toward third for a hit to lead off the inning.

Cabrera was next. On Mike Pelfrey’s 3-1 pitch, he launched a high pop foul down the rightfield line. Neither rightfielder Chris Parmelee nor second baseman Brian Dozier could get to it.

“With a two-run lead, my rightfielder had to be playing deep against Cabrera,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Dozier was playing toward the middle of the field. It just landed in the right spot.”